THERE were tries aplenty in the Sydney Airport Jets' 42-32 loss to South Sydney, in the NSW Premier League match played at Aussie Stadium last Sunday. Newtown looked quite impressive when in possession, but let themselves down badly in defence, conceding a total of nine tries. The Jets' completion rate was their best of the season, but all this good work was undone by the lamentable statistic of thirty-nine missed tackles.
Newtown second rower Joe Lichaa set an outstanding example to his team-mates with twenty-four hit-ups and twenty-one tackles. Billy Najarrin, Tabua Cakacaka, Troy Barnes and Luke Sant also clocked up impressive tackle counts, as the Rabbitohs dominated possession in the first half and in the decisive final twenty minutes of the game. Souths had led 20-12 at half-time, but the Jets fought back to lead 32-24 mid-way through the second half. Craig Field had his best game since joining Newtown, while Ben Tickle and Lee Trasler gave strong support. The Jets might have won the crowd's applause with some creative ball skills, but missing so many tackles against a team with plenty of backline strike power proved fatal.
Newtown's Jim Beam Cup team continues to show plenty of character and improvement, taking the competition leaders The Entrance all the way before losing 32-24. The Jets had led 24-22 well into the second half, and youngsters like Aaron Sweeney, Andrew Abounader, Callan Myles and Frank Reid are all showing the benefit of their involvement in this level of football.
The Sydney Airport Jets are away again in both grades this weekend. The Jim Beamers travel to Ourimbah on Saturday, with this match at Sohier Park due to start at 4.30 pm. The Premier League lads make the road trip to Canberra for the second time this season, with this Sunday match at Canberra Stadium starting at 12.40 pm. Both Sydney Airport Jets' teams are back again at Henson Park on Saturday, July 12.

ANTHONY McCrohon is a young man from the Hunter Valley mining town of Kurri Kurri, who as an outstanding athlete in 1996, trialled for a position in the Knights junior representative teams. Unfortunately tragedy struck on the day of that trial, September 30 1996, which would not only end Anthony's budding football career, but destroy his future well-being.

RUGBY League has for the first time brought together all sections of the game in a Kids to Kangaroos National Development plan that will coordinate the sport?s multi-million dollar investment in junior participation and development.

ALTHOUGH statistics never tell the whole story when it comes to judging the success of NRL coaches, they go a long way in giving scope to a coaches ability over a period of time.
Does a winning record translate into a successful coach?

FOLLOWING the transfer of the Broncos home game from Kogarah to WIN Stadium, R2K has been researching the subject of stadium lighting. Although Stage 1 of the Jubilee Oval redevelopment is complete, with the exception of the Legends' Walk, there was no provision for permanent lighting in the initial stage of the refurbishments. The St.George-Illawarra Management decided to transfer the Broncos game, as they only wanted to play Sunday games at Kogarah in the first year of the return and had no desire to bring in temporary lighting. The lighting issue needs to be resolved by St.George-Illawarra and Kogarah Council for the 2004 season.

ST George-Illawarra Dragons centre Mark Gasnier has denied the latest reports linking him with a move to Wigan Warriors next season.
The 21-year-old star, a Kangaroo Tourist two years ago, could become available at the end of this season, and he has been consistently linked with Wigan since April.

YORKSHIRE second rower Jamie Peacock admits that he is preparing to face a 'Lancashire All-Stars' team in The Origin Game on Wednesday, but is confident that the White Rose county can pull off a win.
The Tykes have lost the three Origin games since the cross-county clashes were restored in 2001, and take on Lancashire at Odsal Stadium on Wednesday night (7.45pm).